Tag: skin-to-skin

Kelly Durbin, Phoenix AZ, USA Photos: Janet Fotheringham An LLL Leader’s reflection recognizes breastfeeding as a complex communication system, not just calories. Breast milk is often promoted as nature’s perfect infant food. Indeed, it has exactly the right balance of fat, protein, and carbohydrates for growing infants, but regarding breastfeeding solely as a means to feed a baby is incredibly limiting. In the last century and into this one, breastfeeding...

‎Anet Henrico‎, Pretoria, South Africa How Anet is helping a vulnerable Pretoria baby. Recently, I went to Abba House Baby Shelter to drop off some baby clothes. The facility provides support to orphans and other vulnerable children to ensure that they have shelter, clothing, food to eat, and that their basic needs are met. While I was speaking to the house mother, she mentioned that they have...

Melissa Clark Vickers, Huntingdon, Tennessee, USA Photo: Sebastián Puenzo Touch comes before sight, before speech. It is the first language, and the last, and it always tells the truth.—Margaret Atwood How are you feeling today? Have you ever thought about what that really means? It’s interesting that to “feel” can not only mean to “touch,” but also refers to that inner sense of wellbeing—the two meanings...

Updated June 15 2016 Teresa Pitman Photo: Austin Smith courtesy of Lena Ostroff Breastfeeding premature babies: how it promotes better health, but rarely happens. What helps mothers who want to breastfeed a premature baby? About ten years ago, I was writing an article for a magazine about breastfeeding a premature baby. I contacted the pediatrician who was overseeing the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a large...

Naturaleza Moore, M.A., Mount Prospect, IL, USA Naturaleza Moore Photo by SAMAiMAGING Broken Marriage In what seemed like the blink of an eye, my family went from poster of perfection to order of protection. The stress was compounded by not having income to support a toddler, as well as a breastfeeding, not-quite two-year-old, and myself. As any breastfeeding mother knows, change makes a baby...

Philippa Pearson-Glaze, Stourbridge, Midlands, UK What is a galactagogue? A galactagogue is something that increases the production of breast milk such as certain herbs, foods, and a few prescription medicines. Most mothers won’t need galactagogues (from the Greek “galacta” which means milk) as there are several ways to increase or maintain a milk supply without using herbs or medicines. If you are worried about your milk supply and whether...

Edith Kernerman, IBCLC Photo: MJ Loiacono by Giselle Salazar Photography Though breastfeeding is natural, it is also a learned behavior and the challenge and joy of this mean that the two of you need to learn together. During this learning process many mothers experience some difficulties with breastfeeding. Some of these challenges come at the onset of breastfeeding, some a few weeks in, and...

Jessica S. Marquis, Phoenix, AZ, USA “Nipple butter.” Her finger swiped the air as if to underline the phrase. She, like the orchestra director, and I, the lead violinist, anxiously awaiting her next stroke. “You’ll want lots of nipple butter.” She nodded and settled back into the chair. I nodded along with her in an attempt to fit in. I was not yet a...